A visit to an Extreme Makeover Home Edition: Beavercreek
Extreme Makeover Home Edition is currently filming/building near us. In fact, it is so close that we have friends that live on the same street for which the house is being constructed. And being the gracious friends that they are, they opened up their home driveway for curious onlookers like us to pay a visit. So earlier in the week, when the weather was nice, I took Isaac out so that he could see all of the construction trucks and so I could say that I had been to the set.
Overall, it was rather uneventful, at least in the way of seeing celebrities and all that. To see a house constructed in a matter of days was utterly amazing though. And the fact that they were giving out free water to the spectators! Really? I’m not doing anything other than standing here! We watched as volunteer workers moved about like frantic bees playing their parts. Isaac admired the trucks and, of course, the cooler.
Then, our friend Brian (who happens to own a housing construction business, just not the one building the house) came by to take a little “break” from working on the house himself. He has been volunteering his time all week as well. Brian’s wife Marissa is also a great seamstress and had received a call the night before asking if she would be willing to work on sewing pillows for the new home. She was excited and could not wait to get started. . .32 hours later and very little sleep she is ready for the reveal (and a little nap). Something tells me her prices might be going up soon. 
Brian proceeded to get us into the VIP area where were able to meet Brook and Faith from the West Chester house build last year. They were wonderful young girls who loved playing and talking to Isaac.
I thought it was cool that there was free food available nearly all day long to the VIP’s courtesy of Little Miami River Catering Company. I even managed a little vlogging for your enjoyment (this is a cooking website after all):
I am proud to report that despite the availability of free food, I abstained thinking there were far more deserving individuals that needed to eat. After all, I was just standing around doing nothing.
It was easier to get a video/camera shot from the VIP area too. Here is a little footage that I captured:
This was on day 5, the day before there had only been a foundation. Amazing.
One thing that struck me before I even arrived is how the community/neighborhood really has to come together to make this whole thing happen. I mean, in the even simplest of ways. The immediate neighbors have to give up their yards and access to their homes in exchange for port-a-potties and VIP tents on their front lawns. Thousands of volunteers come together to build and construct this house in a short week. Not to mention the thousands of dollars in materials and labor that are donated for each house. And it was amazing to see all of the neighbors working together.
As I drove up to the neighborhood I wandered how many of them knew each other before this event? How many more neighbors did they know now? Would this event change the way they communicate/relate to each other in the future? And not just to the receiving family, but to each other? Some interesting questions that partly got answered when I talked to Brian’s mother (who also lives in the neighborhood). She communicated that she had met people that she hadn’t met in years of living there. That she thought it was sad that it took something like this to get neighbors to know one another.
It was interesting that she said that because I was thinking the same thing and was reflecting on my own lack of knowledge about my neighbors. There isn’t a big tv show filming in my back yard but what is stopping me from meeting them? From introducing myself? From volunteering my time? Is it a video camera and a chance at stardom that gets us volunteering? I hope not. So I am going to challenge myself (and you can ask me how this is going) to see about meeting some of my own neighbors this week. Because isn’t that what this should teach me? Perhaps I can find a meal in my freezer with which to share!
At any rate, we enjoyed our time and the visit. I wish I could say that I was going to go to the home reveal but it is tomorrow afternoon and I have a garage sale to attend to and a little boy that likes to nap then. I can’t wait to see the whole story when it airs though. If you ever have the opportunity to participate/spectate one of these amazing weeks you should definitely take advantage of it. It is so amazing to see a community come together.
Very cool! I love that show!
I have noticed that now that I’m spending more time in my yard gardening I’m getting the chance to get to know my neighbors. I also walk my neighborhood with my kids nearly every day. And I’ve gotten to know some people that way too.
Thanks for your comments on this; I would be interested to know the long term outcome of these shows. Are the families able to maitain a home usually 2 to 3 times the size of the home they previoulsy had. I know most shows I have seen recently the contractor has paid the mortgage off or somehow the family was not responsible for the mortgage – but maintaining a home costs money too.
I also wonder about the look of the homes in relation to the other homes in the neighborhood. Often the new home looks like the Taj Mahal plopped down in a modest neighborhood.
I commend all who have helped with these homes.
We were actually discussing this because I have had the same questions. However, last year’s recipients of a house were there and seemed to be doing well. Someone also pointed out that the increased in costs of electricity, etc are probably balanced with the no more mortgage. On the home fitting in the neighborhood front, I would say that they have done a good job with this one. It is very homey and looks appropriate for the neighborhood. There was an extra lot next door so I am sure that helped.
Tricia,
That is so cool to be on the set. Several years ago we got to meet a young girl who was the recipient of a Extreme Makeover Home out in the State of Washington. My oldest Niece remembered the show and was so excited to meet this young girl.
My husband and I are thinking just what you are about meeting the neighbors. When I lived here alone, I did not feel comfortable going out to meet the neighbors on my own, but now that we are married, we are going to plan on doing this once a month until we have met them all. I am sorry to say I only know one of my neighbors and have lived here for 15 years. I am glad that I am married now so I can meet all of my wonderful neighbors. It is important to know the people around you.
Can’t wait to hear how it goes with you neighbors!!!
That’s so cool.
They are actually going to be in our town in 2 weeks. My boys are looking forward to going to watch the building. My 6 yr old son is convinced that he is going to volunteer to help build the house.
Definitely find time to take them. It is so much fun. If nothing else they will love seeing all the construction equipment!
Well there is a reason that foundations are poured then sits there for 2 or 3 weeks before actual construction usually begins on a house; the concrete needs that time to cure. These houses, while usually beautiful, are slapped up in a fraction of the time it should take, and it should take longer for many reasons, mainly foundation curing time and making sure things are set and dried properly elsewhere too. I can’t imagine slapping up drywall and getting that in correctly and that it’s ready to paint in just hours, not the couple days it would normally take for the seam plaster to dry. I have a friend who’s husband worked on electrical installation of the house they did here when they were going across the country doing one in every state… he said he wouldn’t live in it if it was given to him because these houses are probably going to start showing the shoddy construction before too long. If it were really that easy and that *good* to put up a house in a week, that’s how they’d ALL go up. I realize these people are still mostly better off than what they had before; I just hope it doesn’t come back to bite some of them in the fanny with repair issues later down the road.
I like to think that with all of that media and $$ they have come up with some super great concrete mix that withstands the test of time after only 24 hours. . .I can dream can’t I?
They were in our area just a few weeks ago. It was great to see our community come together to help out the family. I didn’t get to go to the site due to having a newborn but I enjoyed following the progress as it was on the news each day.
In what part of the country do you live?
I was so excited to read your blog today! I just returned from seeing this house. However, I was NOT a VIP!!! I had to ride the bus over and stand in the mud!!! I have followed your blog for sometime but never knew how close you are to me!
The house is awesome. My girlfriend’s husband poured the concrete. We did talk to some neighbors and they said that they lived right around the corner and knew none of their neighbors and now everyone knows everyone. Cool!
Let me hear from you if you have time.
THANKS!
So fun to discover it is a small world! We can definitely be in touch. Feel free to email.
Hi Tricia! Thanks for the plug!
I know Extreme Makeover raises some questions. I’ve been curious too. Since Brian is a builder and had the chance to hang with some of the production crew I asked him about it.
As far as concrete he said they use the highest quality concrete available and it is a specialty concrete that sets up very quickly. And the drywall putty is a type that sets up in about 5 minutes- even available at Lowes!
He said there are inspectors on site 24/7 and that the house gets a better inspection than your typical custom built home, which is nice to know.
He said the construction is good quality, but the details are where things get a little less than perfect. The miters might be off on the molding, the concrete may not be completely smooth, etc. Since it is the volunteers doing the finish work it’s not going to be custom quality. Bottom line is it’s better than what they had before and will serve a great purpose for this family
All the subcontractors sign an agreement that they will fix any problems, (i.e. cracks in drywall, etc) free of charge for one year. And there is a punch-out list that is finished before the crew leaves town.
Of the 155 homes that EMHE has done no one has lost their home. Only one family has moved and it was because their children were gone and they no longer need such a large home. It’s a pretty good record if you ask me!
So, for all those inquiring minds… a few questions answered
AWESOME! Marisa, thank you so much for sharing. I figured there was a great explanation, after all, it is a television showing running for many years now. Seems if there were big problems we would be hearing about them. I was actually going to quiz Brian on all this so thanks for saving me (and him) the heartache. Can’t wait to hear more about your pillow making!